epilepsy, delayed brain damage or only headaches?

My sister is going through a really tough time right now...

She's been having fainting spells and some "episodes" recently - similar to ones she had when we were little and she was diagnosed with epilepsy. Severe headaches, fainting, blacking out, not getting her words right, etc. She's refusing to call them seizures because she's afraid she won't be able to work anymore (due to the inability to drive).

When we were little, Docs attributed the epilepsy to a bad fall she had taken: We were in the backseat of the car together and my mom was driving down a hill and sis decided she didn't want to be in the car anymore and she opened the door and fell out, hit her head, and skidded down a steep grade hill - hence the head trauma. Docs now are saying the prob is one of 3 things: Suddenly she's developed severe headaches/migraines, epilepsy has intensified, or she has brain damage from the fall when she was little which is now being "activated"?

She had an MRI and it came back normal, but she has to wait until the 18th for her EEG, which IMO is WAY too late.

I feel so bad for her - she has 2 year old twins and she's the main breadwinner in the family. Her DH is a cop but he pulled back on his hours while the kids are little so they can stagger their schedules so one parent is always with the babies. She's afraid to be alone with the twins, too, because what happens if she can't help them? She can't drive so their stuck in the house the whole time, too.

Has anyone had experience with or know about this? I'm concerned she has something really wrong and time is working against brain injuries...I'd love ANY help....

TIA.

Re: epilepsy, delayed brain damage or only headaches?

Is she on medication? Is she seeing a Neurologist?

If she had trauma to her head years ago, this could be part of traumatic brain injury. It's not the end of the world, but she needs attention.

Not all treatments will render her unfit to drive. There are great meds out there that can help.

TBI sometimes does not show on physical testing like an EEG and MRIs..a neuropsychologist would be a good doc to see.

Neurologist and a Neuropsychologist would be the two docs I would recommend.

Also, she shouldn't be driving if she is blacking out and fainting.

Re: epilepsy, delayed brain damage or only headaches?

Yes, she went to the neurologist on Tuesday and he gave her the date of 5/18 for her EEG. They didn't make her surrender her license but she is NOT driving (sorry - my prev post wasn't clear about that) and the doc put her on anti-seizure medication which makes her feel like she's drunk and she hates having that feeling while she's taking care of the twins.

Thanks so much for your help - I'm going to push her to see another doctor...

Re: epilepsy, delayed brain damage or only headaches?

You have Fm.

Re: epilepsy, delayed brain damage or only headaches?

Has she had a change in medication lately? If the MRI is good then I would not think more injury....Can you describe the seizures a bit more?